Machine Building

Blockchain for traceability in food and beverage production

It has been more than 10 years since the Satoshi Nakamoto published his whitepaper "˜Bitcoin: A peer-to-peer electronic cash system'. While Bitcoin itself has divided many and attracted criticism, the technology that it is built upon, the blockchain, has garnered significant interest due to its promise of immutable digital record-keeping. Darcy Simonis, industry network leader for food and beverage at ABB, explains why the emerging technology stores the key to greater traceability and reduced food wastage.

29th May 2019

Data science and the future of industrial automation

A killer combination of proficiency in code writing, a client-oriented mindset and outstanding communication skills is what is required to excel in the Harvard Business Review's sexiest job of the 21st century - the data scientist. But why is this nascent role so in demand and what does the job actually entail? Sophie Hand, UK country manager at EU Automation, explores this new role and explains how it is enabling better maintenance.

29th May 2019

Guide to choosing the right screw drive

Kevin Moorcroft, Managing Director of Challenge Europe, explains some features of different screw drive types and how to select the right one for a given application.

28th May 2019

How to use computational imaging to reveal hidden details

In computational imaging a number of images of the same field of view are acquired under different lighting or optical conditions. Data is then extracted from these to create a new image containing information that cannot be obtained from a single-shot image. Stemmer Imaging offers a choice of powerful computational imaging solutions so is well placed to explain the technology.

28th May 2019

How manufacturers can improve servitisation with social media

Last year, Waitrose & Partners announced it would begin testing its While You're Away service, delivering orders into customers' homes while they are out. Like supermarkets, manufacturers should continually improve their service offerings to stay competitive. Here Jonathan Wilkins, director at automation parts supplier EU Automation, explains how manufacturers can use social media to improve servitisation.

23rd May 2019

Four criteria to consider when specifying industrial drives

Paul Streatfield, Strategic Product Manager for industrial drives specialist Bosch Rexroth, explores four key criteria for industrial drive specification to meet the challenges of today's requirements.

23rd May 2019

The importance of proper protection for electrical equipment

Karl Lycett, Rittal UK's Product Manager for Climate Control, explains that businesses need to provide adequate protection for their electrical equipment in order to make the most of their assets.

13th May 2019

Benefits of capacitor-based uninterruptible power supplies

Michael Raspotnig, a Senior Design Engineer with PULS Power, discusses the advantages of using capacitor-based power buffer modules instead of traditional lead-acid batteries for industrial uninterruptible power supplies.

13th May 2019

How is Industry 4.0 impacting the supply chain?

Scott Fawcett, Divisional Managing Director of Essentra Components, discusses the impact industry 4.0 has had on the development of the supply chain, the need to streamline manufacturing processes, and the need to build one transparent ecosystem.

17th April 2019

How the role of the systems integrator is evolving

Andy Marshall, technical manager of systems integrator Boulting Technology, discusses how the role of the SI has changed over the course of his career, and what can be expected in the future.

16th April 2019